What is a Change of Ownership, and when do you need to submit one?
Have you recently sold your restaurant, grocery or retail site? Or have you recently purchased one that operates on the Deliveroo platform? If so, then it is likely that you will need to submit a COO application to ensure that we have the correct information in our systems.
Anti-fraud statement: At Deliveroo, we take fraud very seriously and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and security in all aspects of our operations. In order to protect both Partners and Deliveroo, our COO process seeks to ensure that requests to change the owner of a site are genuine. We therefore have strict guidelines that dictate the information and documentation we require and are able to accept to support a COO request. We aim to process these requests within 10 business days, however this is dependent on the complexity of requests. This approach is designed to try to safeguard both previous and new owners operating on Deliveroo’s platform.
When a COO is not required
A COO is not required under the following circumstances:
You wish to change the name of your restaurant or your trading name, but the legal entity you operate through is not changing; or
Your restaurant has not previously traded on Deliveroo, i.e. you are new to the Deliveroo platform altogether. Please follow the normal restaurant sign-up process.
What is the COO application process?
1. The new owner should request and complete the COO form via Partner Hub:
Users with Admin-level access are able to request this via the ‘help’ tab on Partner Hub. Please see below:
2. Our team will acknowledge your request within 2 working days and will aim to process the request within 10 business days;
3. Upon acceptance of the submitted COO documentation, the new owner may need to complete our identity verification process and DAC7 checks. Once this has been approved, the new owner will be required to sign a contract and is now the main point of contact and can start trading on the Deliveroo Platform. If necessary, the new owner is now able to submit a Change of Bank Detail request;
4. If your COO application has been rejected, our team will contact you to discuss why and what you can do for your request to be accepted.
Please note: No changes will be made to the existing bank details until a Change of Bank Detail request has been approved.
What does this mean for the previous owner (seller)?
Please be aware that the new owner may reach out to you in specific situations, such as when there is missing information necessary to process the COO request (e.g. legal documentation requiring your signature, Deliveroo ID number, etc.).
What does this mean for the new owner (buyer)?
If the application is approved and the new owner has not completed a Deliveroo identity verification and DAC7 checks previously, they will be required to do so. Once this has been processed you will gain access to the various systems required to operate on Deliveroo’s platform and start receiving orders.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us via Partner Hub, or refer to our Help Centre for guidance.
Required COO legal documentation*
In order to process a COO application, we require legal documentation that supports the COO. You should provide copies of the document(s) that legally transfer ownership of the business from the previous owner to the new owner. The exact document will depend on how the business has been transferred, but the types of documents we may be able to accept include, but are not limited to:
Transfer of shares in the company that owns your site from the old to the new owner (e.g. share purchase agreement);
Signed and completed sale and purchase agreement for the business (e.g. asset sale agreement, franchise agreement, management agreement);
Signed and completed lease agreement (signature of landlord and tenant should both be present) (e.g. lease form, sub-lease, assignation of lease); or
Registered Title(s): Whole Transfer (TR1).
It is important that the document(s) provided clearly show:
The full name of the previous owner (which will need to match what we have on our systems);
The correct address of the site that is changing ownership (which will need to match what we have on our systems) and
The full name of the new owner (this be the name on the new owner’s contract with Deliveroo, and will need to match the name on any new bank account for the new owner, and match any documents provided for the separate identity verification process for the new owner).
The types of documents we cannot accept are listed below, but are not limited to:
Utility bills;
Invoices;
Bank statements;
Letters;
Companies House Documents;
Credit Applications, and
Insurance Documents.
*Please note: While we strive to accommodate a wide range of document types, the acceptance of documents is subject to certain criteria. In some cases, documents may not be accepted if essential information is missing or they do not meet our specific requirements. Additionally, the list provided is indicative, and there may be circumstances where other document types are needed, or where a document listed is in fact not sufficient to support your COO request. Ultimately, the decision regarding the acceptability of documents rests with Deliveroo and is at our discretion.
Tips for getting your COO approved
The document must be signed by all relevant parties, including any witnesses (where required);
Provide all pages of the documents, please do not miss out on any pages, or this may result in the document being rejected (if all pages are individual files, use a PDF combiner to create one file);
Provide full names of all parties and corresponding company names;
Previous owner’s name must match our records;
The Deliveroo ID must match our records;
Do not use typed names in place of signatures, unless the document has been validly signed on an e-signature platform. If this is the case, please ensure the signatures are dated;
Do not provide a Word document (preferably, provide a PDF);
Do not provide handwritten notes, as these cannot be verified;
Any documents dated older than 12 months will not be accepted, and
Ensure accuracy in spelling across all documents, to allow us to verify the information quickly.
If you need any more clarification on our Change of Ownership application process, please reach out to us via Partner Hub.